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I'm an acupuncturist, teacher, fertility specialist, patient centered advocate, mom, activist and more! This blog is a place for me to write down the things on my mind, the things I discuss over and over, and the things I find helpful, interesting, and inspiring all in the hope that someone else out there, maybe YOU, will find some of these things to be helpful, interesting and inspiring too. I love learning, I love sharing, and I am passionate about helping others lead more balanced, fertile, and healthy lives - while trying to do the same myself. So here goes... The Blogging Life...

4.11.2012

Specific Nutrition for Fertility & Pregnancy Concerns - Iodine

Iodine (for sub-clinical thyroid issues that may effect fertility)

Iodine is a mineral found in some foods. The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones and without it (even if the body wants to make thyroid hormones) it cannot. Because current research for fertility specifically suggests that the healthy range of TSH should ideally be between .5 and 3 for optimal fertility, but most general practitioners are still operating on the more broad recommendations of TSH being under 5, some women who are struggling with infertility are being considered "normal" but may actually benefit from lowering their TSH (to do this, you need to increase your actual thyroid hormones). For a nice summary of this please click HERE

The body also needs thyroid hormones for proper bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy. Getting enough iodine is important for everyone, especially women who are pregnant.

How much iodine do you need

Adults150 mcg

Pregnant/TTC women 220 mcg

Breastfeeding women 290 mcg

In general:

Iodine is found naturally in some foods and is also added to salt that is labeled as "iodized". You can get recommended amounts of iodine by eating a variety of foods, including the

Fish (such as cod and tuna), seaweed, shrimp, and other seafood, which are generally rich in iodine.

Dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese) and products made from grains (like breads and cereals), which are the major sources of iodine in American diets.

Fruits and vegetables, which contain iodine, although the amount depends on the iodine in the soil where they grew and in any fertilizer that was used.

Iodized salt, which is readily available in the United States and many other countries. Processed foods, however, such as canned soups, almost never contain iodized salt.